EHA YEARBOOK 2009
Branch Reports
Emergency Management Special Interest Group
For most members of the EMSIG, 20 09 has been a very
difficult period to commit to the EMSIG due to the impact
of the “Black Saturday Fires” in February. These fires
impacted on a number of members whose municipalities or
organisations were affected or involved in responding to the
fires. The unexpected workload resulting from these fires and
in the case of affected municipalities to the ongoing Recovery
process which may take years to respond to, has and will
make it very difficult for relevant members to commit to the
EMSIG.
In addition to the fires a number of SIG members were
involved in responding to the outbreak of Swine Flu which
compounded an already very difficult period.
In light of the above the commitment of all EMSIG members,
the 20 09 course was successfully completed.
The EMSIG had a number of focuses in the last financial year
which included :
n Development and facilitation of the 2009 course.
n Participation in interagency Emergency Management
Committees.
n Development and presentation of emergency management
education to Environmental Health students at Swinburne
University.
n Development (with relevant agencies) of protocols for
EHOs entering CFA and the DSE staging areas during a
fire.
n Maintaining accreditation status by reviewing topics,
program and tabletop exercise, course notes and liaising
with relevant emergency management organisations and
agencies.
The EMSIG continued its development and facilitation of the
nationally accredited Emergency Management Course, which
was held at Emergency Management Australia Mt Macedon
from 26 to 31 July. A full complement of participants (thirty)
attended comprising municipal EHOs from Victoria, interstate
(Western Australia, New South Wales), the Department of
Human Services and the Australian Defence Forces (RAAF).
To ensure the success of the course, a minimum of six SIG
members were in attendance each day as either a syndicate
assessor, syndicate leader or as a program manager.
The SIG has continued its ongoing role of presenting at
Swinburne University. The presentations involve providing
an overview of public health emergency management to first
year students in May, and further presentations to second
year students in October, which are assessed items of their
course. The presentations cover the areas of Prevention,
Preparedness, Response and Recovery as they relate to
emergencies.
The EMSIG would like to thank the Department of Human
Services and Kernow Environmental Services (Terry Old)
for their ongoing financial support of the course. The
emergency management course would not be the success it is
without the support of the Victorian Branch Council, and in
particular, the work and commitment of the SIG members.
Kirsten Jenkins MEHA
Emergency Management Special Interest Group Convenor
Victorian Branch (continued)